Stencil and process of making same.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

' H. c. J. DEEKS. STENCIL AND PROCESS or MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

no MODEL.

IZVVENTOR fir WITNESSES:

41/4 lymbsfi 04 TTORNE Y.

PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

H, C. J. DBEKS. STENCIL AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2'7. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR BY W oe roRNEi WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented July 21, 1903.

. PATENT. OFFICE.

STENCIL AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,120, dated July 21,1903. Application filed February 27, 1903- Serial No. 145,348. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM O. J. DEEKS, a citizen of the UnitedStates,and a resident of Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stencilsand- Processes of Making Same, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the art'of transferring to fabrics, paper,walls, or similar surfaces designs which have been produced on stencils.

This application is confined to the stencil designed for the abovepurposes and the process by which the same is produced.

My invention consists, therefore, in an improved process for makingstencils and also in the article of manufacture which the stencilembodies.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein corresponding numeralsof reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvedstencil. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent background, showing thedesign. Fig. 3 is a similar View after the wax has been removed from thestencil and deposited on the background. Fig. 4 is a plan view of thestencil after the wax coating has been applied, but before the frame hasbeen distended for the supplemental stretching. Fig. 5 is a sectionalview on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, the thickness of the several layers ofthe sheet being very much exaggerated. Fig. 6 is a plan View of a pieceof the silk gauze. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a piece ofthe coated gauze, the wax having been removed in accordance with adesign.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals relate tocorresponding parts, 1 is the frame of the stencil, preferablymade ofwoods At the diagonally opposite corners 2 of the frame the joint ismade secure by glue.

or any fastening means. The other two corners 3 are mortised, as shown,but not glued. In the finished stencil the corners 3 are nailed.

4 is the surface of the stencil, on which appears the design 5.

The completed stencil has the five layers best shown in Fig. 5, where 6is the gauze, 7

the layers of wax inclosing the gauze thoroughly, and 8 the layers ofvarnish.

9, Fig. 6, is the silk gauze.

10 is the absorbent background, showing the design 11, and 12 is thedesign after the wax has been absorbed from the stencil.

The threads of the gauze are numbered 13.

In carrying out the objects of my invention I take a piece of very finereticulated material, preferably silk gauze, Fig. 6, which is fine notonly in texture but in respect of the size of its mesh and of sufficientstrength to stand the wear incident to its use, as hereinafterexplained. I stretch this gauze upon a frame 1 and secure it on allsides to the surface of the frame by glue or paste, so that the sheet ofgauze is smooth and tight like a drum; but at the corners 3 I omit theglue or paste for a short distance either way from the corners. I thendip the'frame covered by the silk gauze into melted wax or othersuitable plastic material, which when it has cooled will be preferablysomewhat transparent and which will adhere to the gauze in very thin andeven layers 8 when the frame is removed from the liquid wax. After thewax 8 has cooled and solidified in a layer upon the gauze, upon bothsides thereof, I subject the framed sheet again to heat and turn it sothat the melted wax will cover the gauze 6 still more uniformly with athin coating, filling all its interstices or meshes. I-then lay theframe with its wax-coated sheet aside for several hours. After a timethe sheet expands and loosens from its smooth drum-like appearance,becoming slightly wrinkled, Fig. 4. I thenextend the frame from itsshape shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 1, so that the two halves ofthe frame separate, though retaining the shape of a parallelogram. Thegauze 8, not having been glued or pasted to the frame 1 in the immediateneighborhood of corners 3, where the two parts of the frame are to beseparated, the gauze is not ordinarily torn by the distention of theframe; but a slight injury to the texture of the gauze at the corners 3,should it occur, is unobjectionable, as the design is not to betransferred through the corners of the sheet, but only through itscentral portions. The distention of the frame is easily accomplished byinserting a tool like a screw-driver at the joint of the mortise. Agradual twisting of the tool will separate the parts of the frame at thetwo corners 3. When the frame is thus distended, as indicated in Fig. 1,so thatthe coated sheet is again smooth and tight like a drum, a nail ortack is driven through the corners 3 to secure and hold the parts inposition. I next lay the frame upon a sheet of blotting-paper 10 orsimilar absorbent material upon which adesign, usually by tracing, hasbeen drawn. As the gauze and its coating of wax are transparent, thedesign upon the background of blotting-paper will appear through thegauze. The frame should be held or fastened tightly against theblotting-paper, so that the surface of the wax contacts uniformly withthe design on the blotting-paper or background. I then employ a hotsharp implement like a darning-needle, which has been heated by a flameor by an electric current, and follow with this implement upon the upperface of the coated gauze the design which is on the background beneath.The implement will melt and displace the wax from the gauze and cause itto be transferred to, deposited upon, and absorbed by the background ofblotting-paper. I prefer to use blue rather than white blotting-paper,for the deposit of wax on the blue ground appears black, as indicated at12, Fig. 3, and assists the operator in following the design with theimplement. On a white background the wax is yellow in appearance andless distinct. When the design has been completely traced upon thestencil, that part of the gauze which has been traversed by the needlewill be free from wax. An important feature consists of the clear cleanedges left where the hot implement has traveled. These edges do notfollow the texture of the gauze, but stand out distinct across itsmeshes, as indicated in Fig. 7. The hot implement melts the waximmediately,so that slight pressure only is required, and the gauze isnot torn or injured. I next apply with a brush or any suitable means acoating of varnish to one surface of the sheet. As the brush traversesthe open portions of the sheet from which the wax has been removed Ifollow its course immediately with a wad of cotton-wool or otherabsorbent material applied on the opposite side from the varnish. As thecotton-wool traverses the open portions of the sheet across which thebrush of varnish has just been drawn the varnish is cleanly removed fromthe silk gauze 6 and absorbed by the cotton-wool. Naturally a minutequantity of the varnish is retained by the silk-gauze, serving toprotect the same; but so slight is the amount that there is noappreciable effect on the open reticulated appearance and structure ofthe gauze. I then allow the coat of Varnish 8 to dry completely and thenapply another coat 8 to the reverse surface of the sheet, againemploying cotton-wool to absorb the varnish from the open portions ofthe stencil. When the second coat of varnish is dry, the stencil isready for use.

This stencil and my process for producing the same have severaladvantages. The stencil is very thin, so that in transferring designstherewith the marking will be clear and sharp. The stencil istransparent, so that the position to which the design is to betransferred may be accurately gaged. The frame serves to keep the coatedsurface smooth and tight and enables the frail material to be employedand transported without injury and without losing its shape. The stencilis durable and will stand any climate. It is easy to wash after use tomake ready for further use. The wax surface without a coat of varnishwould be apt to stretch when wet. The steps of my process for producingthe stencil are simple and inexpensive. The frame is preferably made ofwood, like the frame of an ordinary school-slate. The thin gauze isreadily applied to the slate and secured by inexpensive paste or glue.My process does not involve chemical action. The transfer of the designby tracing in one step which opens up the design at once isadvantageous, as the operator can watch his work closely. It is notessential that the design be first produced on the background, which isto absorb the wax when free from the gauze. The design may be appliedfree hand.

A process of producing designs on fabrics in which stencils like thatherein described may be used is embodied in another application filed byme February 27, 1903, Serial No. 145,349. I do not abandon featuresherein set forth but not claimed. They are claimed in the applicationreferred to.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of producing stencils, which consists in first stretchinga sheet of reticulated material upon a frame and securing the sheetthereto so that the surface is tight and smooth; second, coating thesheet with a film of transparent plastic material, permanent at ordinarytemperatures, which is readily melted by heat; third, placing the framewith the coated sheet upon a background displaying a design, which isadapted to receive and retain the plastic material when depositedthereon; and fourth, tracing the design upon the surface of the coatedsheet by a hot implement to melt the wax in accordance with the desireddesign and deposit it upon and in the background, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

2. The method of producing stencils which consists in coating a sheet ofreticulated fabric with plastic material which is solid at ordinarytemperatures; second, placing the coated sheet against an absorbentbackground adapted to receive and retain the plastic material whenmelted, and third, tracing the design with a hot implement to remove ICCIIO

the wax and deposit it upon and into the background.

3. The method of producing stencils, which consists in first stretchinga sheet of reticulated material tight upon a frame; second, coating saidsheet with melted plastic material; third, allowing the coated sheet tocool and expand; fourth, subjecting said sheet to a supplementalstretching upon said frame which is then fastened to secure the sheetpermanently tight and drum-like; fifth, placing said sheet upon anabsorbent backgrou nd and sixth, tracing a design with a hot implementupon said sheet to melt the plastic material and deposit selectedportions thereof upon and into said absorbentbackground.

4. The method of producing stencils which consists of first stretching asheet of reticu-v lated material tight upon a frame; second, coatingsaid sheet with plastic material; third,placing said sheet against abackground of absorbent material; fourth, tracing a design with a hotimplement upon said sheet to melt the plastic material and depositselected portions thereof upon and into said absorbent material; fifth,coating said sheet on one or both sides with protective material likevarnish; and sixth, removing said varnish, while still liquid, from theopen portions of said sheet by absorption into material drawn over suchopen portions.

5. The method of producing stencils, which consists in coating a sheetof reticulated material with a plastic coating; next, removing selectedportions of said coating in accordance with a design by means of a tooland depositing such portion of the plastic coating upon a background;next, coating said sheet with varnish or other protective material; andnext, removing said varnish from the open portions of said sheet byabsorption in suitable material.

6. The method of producing stencils, which consists in stretching asheet of reticulated material upon a frame adapted to a supplementaldistention; next, coating said sheet With plastic material; next,distending said frame for a supplemental stretching of said sheet; next,removing selected portions of said plastic material from said sheet inaccordance with a design; and next, coating said sheet with protectivematerial like varnish, which is removed from the open portions of saidsheet while still in liquid state.

7. As an article of manufacture, a stencil consisting of a frame; asheet of reticulatedmaterial tightly stretched thereon; a coating ofplastic material thoroughly inclosing said sheet upon both sides andentering its meshes, but cleanly removed from said sheet at selectedportions, the demarcation of the coated portion being clear and withtrue edges; and a protective coating of varnish over said sheet, but sothin and minute at the open portions that the reticulated appearance andstructure of the sheet is not appreciably disturbed. I

8. As an article of manufacture, a' stencil consisting of a frame; asheet of flexible, reticulated material tightly stretched thereon; acoating of plastic material thoroughly inclosing said sheet upon bothsides but removed therefrom at selected portions so that the coatingpresents at said portions clear, clean edges not conforming to the shapeof the meshes of said reticulated sheet, but standing out distinctacross the open spaces between the threads.

Signed at New York city, in the county of NewYork and State of New York,this 26th day of February, A. D. 1903.

HIRAM o. J. DEEKS.

Witnesses:

MINNIE 'KAUFFMAN, JOSEPH A. STETSON.

